Some Navy ships could have to return to US for maintenance, repairs under NDAA proposal

Some Navy ships could have to return to US for maintenance, repairs under NDAA proposal

by: Claudia Grisales | .

Stars and Stripes | .

published: June 12, 2018

WASHINGTON — Navy ships based overseas could have to undertake a new, costly journey back to the United States for maintenance and repairs under a new provision of the defense policy bill, according to an analysis by the Congressional Budget Office.

About 30 ships could be impacted by the provision of the House-passed version of the next National Defense Authorization Act, H.R. 5515, at a cost of $80 million a year, or $400 million for five years, the federal agency found.

The provision “would require all vessels that are part of the U.S. naval fleet to be treated as though they are assigned to home ports in the United States or Guam for purposes of maintenance and repair,” the agency said. This is a change from the current requirement, as ships with overseas home ports “are usually exempt from the restrictions on maintenance and repair work in foreign shipyards.”

The Congressional Budget Office, which issues cost and budget analysis of proposed legislation on behalf of Congress, detailed the estimates as part of a larger look at the House version of the defense policy proposal, which could direct funding of about $709 billion.